Motor operated machine unit



Nov. 24, 1936- H. R. VAN DEVENTER MOTOR OPERATED MACHINE UNIT Original Filed Oct. '12 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

HARRY R. VAN DEVENTEFI Nov. 24, 1936.

1-1. R. VAN DEVENTER 2,062,045

MOTOR OPERATED MACHINE UNIT Original Filed Oct. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORQ HARRY R. VAN DEVENTER ATTORNEYS,

1936- H. R. VAN DEVENTER MOTOR OPERATED MACHI'N'E UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Oct. 12, 1925 INVENTOR. HARRY R. VAN DEVENTER BY g/ I A TTORNEYS.

. 'Nov. 24, 1936. R VAN DEVENTER V 2,062,045.

MOTOR OPERATED MACHINE UNIT Original Filed Oct. l2 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HARRY R. VAN DEVENTER A TTORNEY Patented Nov. :24, 1936 MOTOR OPEBAT ED MACHINE UNIT Harry R. Van Deventer, New York, N. Y., assignor, by memo assignments, to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application October 12, 1926, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 2, 1929, Serial No. 396,817. Renewed April 19,

1934 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination and arrangement of units of apparatus and the principles thereof may be applied to a variety of purposes. s

The invention described and covered herein is the outgrowth of the development of apparatus for use in a mechanical refrigeration machine and more specifically this invention pertains thereto.

One object of this invention is to provide a combination of motor and pump which may be used for a variety of purposes, and in which all belts and gearing between the motor and .pump

are eliminated.

Another object is to provide a combined motor and pump with an encldsing housing therefor whereby the stufling box usually surrounding the pump shaft is eliminated.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a compact efficient arrangement for securinga hermetically sealed motor pump unit.

a A further object is to accomplish a major assembly of apparatus whereby a plurality of cooperating unit structures may each be independently and separately assembled and tested before being associated with its cooperating units and whereby any unit may be removed from the major assembly in toto for replacement purposes. v

A still further object is to provide a method of mounting the motor pump assembly-whereby noise and vibrations thereof are not transmitted to the refrigerator box, for example. i

Other and further objects and improvements will more fully hereinafter appear.

This invention is shown and will be descr as applicable to a compressor for mechanical refrigeration apparatus, and is particularly advantageous for use in the small units commonly employed with household refrigerators now in,

extended use. However, the same may be applied to other apparatus by those skilled in the arts.

to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figures 1 and 1A represent a vertical section through the assembled units of the compression or high-side of a refrigeration machine unit ibed My invention may be understood by reference ed therein the top and one side thereof oemg removed to facilitate illustration.

i denotes a main frame or casing, preferably tubular in form and comprising the support for theunitfhaving therein a partition 2, shown as an integral inwardly extending flange forming a separating wall between two distinct chambers 5 and 5a.

Within the chamber 5 and mounted on one side of the main frame is a pump or compressor unit 6 while within the chamber Ba. and mounted on the other side of the main frame is the motor. The compressor unit consists of end plates 1, 'I' supporting and forming bearings for a shaft 8 carrying pump rotors 9, the pump illustrated being a rotary two stage type, 8.1-.- though any other form of pump may be used. The partition ill and cylinder or body portions ll of the pump are secured together and to the respective end plates by any suitable means such as bolts, one'of which is indicated at l2.

The construction and operation of thepump unit is not described in detail, because not constituting the subject of the present claims, and not necessary to an understanding thereof.

The foregoing pump may be assembled and tested as a separate unit from the other portions of the. cooperating apparatus hereinafter described. When ready for service this unit pump structure is placed within the chamber 5 and secured-in position therein with the bearing 1 extending through the aperture provided in the partition 2. Any suitable securing means may be used, such as the clamps 13 secured to the partition 2 by means of screws as shown and spaced around the periphery of the end plate I.

The driving connection includes inner end of the shaft 8 which is splined, as indicated at ll,

to engage'the splined end of the shaft 15 upon which is mounted the rotor iii of aprime mover or. electric motor (an alternating current motor is shown). sThe pole pieces of the motor are indicated at H as provided with field windings l8.

The casing. i has a plurality of internal ribs 20 upon which the field or stator of the motor is pressed or otherwisesecured. The motor shaft carries the movable portions 2i of the usual centrifugal starting switch, the stationary portions of which are indicated at 22 as mounted upon the bearing 23 which projects inwardly from the head or closure member 3 which is sealed to the main frame. This head or closure member also carries the terminals of the windings I! of the. motor, one of which terminals is shown at 24 as insulated from the head or closure member I.

The described motor unit drives the pump unit heretofore described.

I do not describe in detail the construction and operation of the electric motor as this maybe 5 of any suitable construction. I have shown a known form of splitphase alternating current motor, but it is obvious that any other motor I may be used within the scope of my invention.

The motor and pump assembly may'be used as part of a refrigeration system in which event the assembly is connected to a. condenser and an evaporator or "low side", as will be hereinafter described.

The intake for the pumpor compressor 6 is through the conduit. or duct 21 which extends through the side of the main frame or casing I and through partition 2 communicating directly with the first stage of the pump by means of the horizontal duct 21'. The outlet orexhaust of .the pump is indicated at 28 within the chamber 5, so that the pump is located in what may be -"terr'ned the pressure chamber 5.

'- It will be assumedthat the motor and pump .assemblyare part of a refrigeration machine system that is properly charged with a liquid refrigerant such as ethyl chloride and a lubricant such as a heavy oil. Theoil is introduced into the pressure chamber i to the level indicated by the dot-and dash line 29 where it is maintained by 30 means of the heme plate 30 that is secured to the flange 26 on the interior of the casing l. The battle plate 30 does not contact with the entire flange 26, but is spaced to restrict the opening or conduit 3| formed in the main frame or casing I and connecting the chamber I! through the opening 33 with the exterior at the top of the chamber 5. 1

The refrigerant in a gaseous state enters the pump through the conduit or duct 21, is compressed in the pump and discharged from outlet pipe "into the chamber 5, at which time it is commingled with the lubricant. It is desirable to separate the lubricant from the refrigerant and this is accomplished in the above described structure in part because the lubricant being heavier than the compressed gas will fall to the bottom of the chamber, the free gas particles passing through opening or conduit ll, and part- 1y because the pump casing will be warm, due to the friction of the moving parts therein and the heat of compression, which will cause the refrigerant to immediately boil oil from the lubricant and, in turn. pass through the openingjl. In

otherwords, a constant distillation takes place of the refrigerant from the body of lubricant thereby the body of lubricant at the desired density." It will also be observed that this I method of separation of the refrigerant from the lubricant is advantageous over any method of to mechanical separation because it is a fractional distillation method insuring actual chemical separation of the refrigerant from the lubricant.

The closure'member or head 4 is seated to the main frameorcasing I to form chamber land wisspacedfromtheplate Ilsoasto'forma.

chamber 32 in which liquid refrigerant collects.

I The chamber is provided with openings 33 and 04.

by means of which the chamber is connected to any suitable form of condenser, to be hereinafter 7 referredto. Theopeningflisalsoconnectedto any suitable form of expansion valve and crap-- e 1 brator (not shown) by means "ofthe T'connector a. a I I will not describe in detail the refrigeration 76 cycle as this is-well known and any known systhe bearings.

the screw capped opening 51- tem may be used with the pump and motor structure herein disclosed. 'However, the method of lubricating the pump and motor is important and is as follows:-

I d plate I, through the hole 39 in the shaft 8 and through transverse holes "to the inner surfaces H of the pump and through the bearing in the opposite -end plate 1. The hole 39 does not extend into the spline l4. Where a rotary pump is used, the described system of lubrication also forms the seal for the pump.

Lubricant is also forced up the pipe or conduit 38 into the bearing in the associated end plate].

The bearing is provided with an annular groove or conduit 42 which communicates with a hole or conduit 43 in the motor shaft l5 .by means of a. transverse hole, not shown. Lubricant is forced into the bearing 23 in the head 3' and the oil leaves the bearing via duct or conduit 44, finding its way to the bottom of the chamber .26 from whence it is drawn into the suction ductor conduit 21 through the aperture or conduit 45 communicating therewith. The lubricant is ultimately returned to the main'body of lubricant in the chamber 5. The hole It does not extend into the spline l4. Thus passages 3t, 42, 43, 44 and 45 constitute a conduit for the passage of oil, which conduit is connected with the compression intakeduct.

By the foregoing arrangement a constant circulation of lubricantis maintained through the pump and motor bearings insuring positive and efllcient lubrication at all times.

-The cooling of the motor and pump is accomplished by means of a fan 40 whichis driven by a suitable electric motor 41, the armature shaft 49 thereof being supported in bearings Stand Bearing u is supported in the-end plate a but,

has no communication with the .motor chamberv la which is connected to the suction side of the pump. Bearing "is supported by the end plate I! that'is mounted upon the casing 53 of the motor 41. The casing l3 may be formed integral with the closure member or head 3 if desired. Suitable terminals, one of which is shown at B4, are provided for the fan motorand these terminalsmay be connected to the pump motor termi nals in multiple so that one mam connection Bl will serve for the terminals of both motors. Both motors are controlled by the same thermostatic means which may be of any of the typescom- .monly employed for such purposes.

The lubrication of the fan motor is accome plished'by providing a reservoir It filled with lubricant and communicating with-the ducts I1 and I. leading respectively to the bearings III and ll. 'lhe ducts are supplied with the usual wick oilers or other means for supplying lubricant to Thereservoir it is filled through The main frame or, casing may include suitable radial cooling fins 80 extending beyond the closure,

The shroud may have an extension enclosing the-fan. with suitable vibration absorbing packing 63 therebetween. By this arrangement an air current generated by the fan will be drawn into the space 7 between the casing l and the I shroud 52, as indicated by the arrow 84 and discharged 'in the direction of the arrow 85, thereby cooling the pump and motor chamber.

The above describedassembled unit maybe mounted in a refrigerator box of the usual type. In Fig. 3 the bottom portion of such a box is 10 shown and comprises a base 86, the ends 81 and 68 and a two-part partition 60. The top and one side of this compartment have been omitted for convenience in showing the interior arrangement of parts.

The motor-compressor unit is supported by means of the main frame I in the partition 69 by means of a packing strip I0, preferably of suitable non-metallic resilient material. Additional supporting means are provided for the shroud 62 and its associated parts. These supports are in the natureof cradles connected at H and 12 respectively on opposite sides of the partition 89.- The elements II and I! may be ofany suitable resilient material and I have found leather straps 5 to be effective. Strap 'Il extends through openings in the shroud 62 and is secured to the casing I, the opposite ends being supported upon pillars or blocks 13. A resilient packing Ha surrounds each strap II where it extends through the openings in the shroud 63 and supports the shroud.

Strap I2 is secured to and supports the end of the casing I outside of the shroud 82 and is supported on opposite sides of the shroud upon pillars or blocks 14, one only of which is shown in the drawings. 1

The resilient mountings'for the pump and motor unit and the associated shroud prevent motorpump and mechanical vibrations from being transmitted to the container and the refrigerator 40 box.

a The front I! of the box-like container is provided with a plurality of openings or louvre's ina dicated at 1 8, II respectively on each side of the partition 89. The condenser 18 is so-positioned in front of one set of these openings that the air drawn through theopenings in front of the condenser will pass therethrough and into the space between the casing l and the shroud 62 as heretofore described. The air is discharged into the opposite'compartment of the container, passing out through the openings 18 therein, thereby? maintaining a constant circulation of air for coolhis pu s s The condenser 18 is connected to the motor 23 and pump assembly by means of pipes 19 and ll, the pipe I! being fitted into the opening 33- in the'head l and the pipe 80 being fitted into the T connection 15 (Fig. 1).

The gases which are discharged from the pipe 28 into the chamber I and the gases which are valve being from the T 35 and the return line.

from the evaporator being connected to the duct 21. Since these constitute no part of the present invention no description thereof is given.

The condenser 18 may either be supported on the motor pump unit by means of pipes 19 and 80 or independently supported on resilient means of the same general character as that used for' supporting the pumpand motor unit.

In describing the assembly of the complete unit shown in Figs. 1 and 1A, 'attentionhas been directed to the fact that each of the motors and the 6. pump may be assembled and tested as independent units before being inserted in the casing 1. Furthermore, in the event of repairs it is onlynecessary to remove the particular unit rather than disassembling the complete machine in orl0- der to reach the part which needs repairing. Accordingly, where the term unit pump or unit -motor" is used. it is intended to includea unit which may be assembled and tested independently of the parts with which it is to be associated. 15

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 141,213, filed October 12, 1926. I Modifications may be made in the arrangement and location of parts within the spirit and scope of my invention,and such modifications are in! 20 tended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combined motor and pump structure comprising a'hermetically sealed casing formingtwo chambers, a complete self-contained pump struc- 25 ture removably mounted in one chamber, a motor mounted in the other chamber, an operating shaft for the pump structure, a shaft for the motor coaxial with the pump shaft, and means separably connecting the adjacent, ends of said shafts, said pump structure being removable from its chamber of the casing and from the motor mounted in theother chamber and operable outside the casing as a unit. v

. 2. A combinedmotor and pump structure comprising a hermetically sealed casing, a partition dividing said casing into two chambers, a'complete self-contained pump structure in one cham-' ber removably secured to said partition, a motor mounted in the other chamber, an operating v4.0

shaft for the pump structure, a'shaft for the motor coaxial with the pump shaft, and means separably connecting the adjacent ends of said shafts, said pump structure being removable from its chamber of the casing and from the mo- 45 tor mounted in the other chamber and operable outside the casing as a unit.

- 3. In combination a high pressure discharge chamber, abody of lubricant in .said chamber, a rotary pump in said chamber including a sub- 50 stantially cylindrical casing, a shaft passing through said casing, a bearingfor said shaft in a wall of said chamber, said shaft passing through said bearing and wall, a rotor on said shaft in said casing having vanes extending to 5 said casing,,a high pressure lubricant passage in said shaft having an open connection to said body of lubricant, a lubricant flow connection from said lubricant passage to a portion of the space between said shaft and bearing, a gas in- 60 take for said pump and another lubricant flow connection from another portion of the space between said bearing and shaft tosaid intake, said lubricant flow connections being partially. sealed from each other by said shaft whereby 5 only a limited quantity of lubricant is permitted to flow from said high pressure chamber to said gas intake.

4. In combination a high pressure discharge chamber, a body of lubricant in said chamber, a 70 rotary pump in. said chamber including a substantially cylindrical casing, a shaft passing through said casing, a bearing for said shaft in a wall of said chamber, said shaft passing through said bearing and wall, a rotor on said shaft in 75 saidcasingahishpreuureiubriccntmuuein said shaft having an open connection to acid body not lubricant, o lubricant flow connection from said lubricant me to a. portion of the space between said shaft and bearing, a as intake for said pump and another lubricant flow connection from another portion of. the space betake.

HARRY R. VAN- DEVENTER; 

